व्यास उवाच युधिष्ठिर तव प्रज्ञा न सम्यगिति मे मतिः। न हि कश्चित्स्वयं मर्त्यः स्ववशः कुरुते क्रियाम्॥
Vyasa said. O Yudhishthira, your wisdom, I conceive, is not sufficient. None does a work by his own power.
ईश्वरेण च युक्तोऽयं साध्वसाधु च मानवः। करोति पुरुषः कर्म तत्र का परिदेवना॥
It is god who engages him in deeds, good or bad, O bestower of honour. What is the cause then for repentance?
आत्मानं मन्यसे चाथ पापकर्माणमन्ततः। शृणु तत्र यथापापमपकृष्येत भारत॥
You consider yourself as having perpetrated impious deeds. Do you therefore, O Bharata, listen to the way in which sins, may be removed.
तपोभिः क्रतुभिश्चैव दानेन च युधिष्ठिर। तरन्ति नित्यं पुरुषा ये स्म पापानि कुर्वते॥
O Yudhishthira, those who commit sins, can always free themselves from them through penance, sacrifice and gifts.
यज्ञेन तपसा चैव दानेन च नराधिप। पूयन्ते नरशार्दूल नरा दुष्कृतकारिणः॥
O king, O foremost of men, sinful people are purified by sacrifice, austerities and charity.
असुराश्च सुराश्चैव पुण्यहेतोर्मखक्रियाम्। प्रयतन्ते महात्मानस्तस्माद् यज्ञाः परायणम्॥
The great celestials and Asuras celebrate sacrifices for acquiring religious mcrit; and therefore sacrifices are of great importance.
यज्ञैरेव महात्मानो बभूवुरधिकाः सुराः। ततो देवाः क्रियावन्तो दानवनभ्यधर्षयन्॥
It is through sacrifices that the great celestials had grown so wondrously powerful; and having celebrated rites did they defeat the Danavas.
राजसूयाश्वमेधौ च सर्वमेधं च भारत। नरमेधं च नृपते त्वमाहर युधिष्ठिर॥
Do you, O Yudhishthira, prepare for the Rajasuya, and the Horse-Sacrifice, as well as. O Bharata, for the Sarvamedha and the Naramedha.
यजस्व वाजिमेधेन विधिवद् दक्षिणावता। बहुकामान्नवित्तेन रामो दाशरथिर्यथा॥ यथा च भरतो राजा दौष्यन्तिः पृथिवीपतिः। शाकुन्तलो महावीर्यस्तव पूर्वपितामहः॥
And as Dasharatha's son, Rama or as Dushyanta's and Shakuntala's son your ancestor, the lord of the Earth, thc exceedingly powerful king Bharata, had done, do you according to the ordinance celebrate the HorseSacrifice with presents.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच असंशयं वाजिमेधः पावयेत् पृथिवीमपि। अभिप्रायस्तु मे कश्चित् तं त्वं श्रोतुमिहार्हसि॥
Yudhishthira replied:-Undoubtedly, the Horse-Sacrifice purifics princes. But I have a purpose of which you should hear.
इमं ज्ञातिवधं कृत्वा सुमहान्तं द्विजोत्तम। दानमल्पं न शक्नोमि दातुं वित्तं च नास्ति मे॥
Having caused this huge slaughter of kindred, I cannot, O best of the twice-born ones, dispense gifts even on a small scale, I have no riches to give.
न तु बालानिमान् दीनानुत्सहे वसु याचितुम्। तथैवाईव्रणान् कृच्छ्रे वर्तमानान् नृपात्मजान्॥
Nor can I for riches solicit these young sons of kings, living wretchedly with their wounds yet green, and undergoing suffering.
स्वयं विनाश्य पृथिवीं यज्ञार्थं द्विजसत्तम। करमाहारयिष्यामि कथं शोकपरायणः॥
How, O foremost of twice-born ones, having myself destroyed the Earth, can I, overwhelmed with sorrow, levy dues for celebrating a sacrifice?
अत्र मे दुर्योधनापराधेन वसुधा वसुधाधिपाः। प्रनष्टा योजयित्वास्मानकी, मुनिसत्तम॥
Through Duryodhana's folly, O best of ascetics, the kings of the Earth have met with destruction, and we with ignominy.
दुर्योधनेन पृथिवी क्षयिता वित्तकारणात्। कोशश्चापि विशीर्णोऽसौ धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्मतेः॥
Duryodhana had wasted the Earth for money; and the treasury of that wicked son of Dhritarashtra is empty.
पृथिवी दक्षिणा चात्र विधिः प्रथमकल्पितः। विद्वद्भिः परिदृष्टोऽयं शिष्टो विधिविपर्ययः॥
(In this sacrifice), the Earth is the sacrificial gift; this is the rule that is prescribed in the first instance. The learned observe the usual reversal of this rule though sanctioned.
न च प्रतिनिधि कर्तुं चिकीर्षामि तपोधन। भगवन् सम्यक् साचिव्यं कर्तुमर्हसि॥
Nor, O ascetic, do I like to have a substitute. In this matter, O reverend sir, you should favour me with your advice.
एवमुक्तस्तु पार्थेन कृष्णद्वैपायनस्तदा। मुहूर्तमनुसंचिन्त्य धर्मराजानमब्रवीत्॥
Thus addressed by Pritha's son, KrishnaDvaipayana, thinking for a while, spoke to the righteous king. This treasury, (now) exhausted, shall be full. O son of Pritha, in the mountain Himavan (Himalaya) there is gold which had been left behind by Brahmanas at the sacrifice of the great Marutia.
कोशश्चापि विशीर्णोऽयं परिपूर्णो भविष्यति। विद्यते द्रविणं पार्थ गिरौ हिमवति स्थितम्॥ उत्सृष्टं ब्राह्मणैर्यज्ञे मरुत्तस्य महात्मनः। तदानयस्व कौन्तेय पर्याप्तं तद् भविष्यति॥
O son of Pritha, today your treasury is cmply but it is expected to be filled very soon. In the sacrifice of high souled Marutta at mountain Himavat, left riches, you should collect them which is sufficient for yourself.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच कथं यज्ञे मरुत्तस्य द्रविणं तत् समाचितम्। कस्मिंश्च काले स नृपो बभूव वदतां वर॥
Yudhishthira asked: How in that sacrifice celebrated by Marutta, was so much gold collected? And, O foremost of speakers, when did he reign?
व्यास उवाच यदि शुश्रूषसे पार्थ शृणु कारन्धमं नृपम्। यस्मिन् काले महावीर्यः स राजासीन्महाधनः॥
Vyasa said If, O Pritha's son, you are anxious to hear, about that king of the Karandhama line, then listen to me as I tell you when that highly powerful king having immense riches reigned.